The National Geographic Magazine
them through propaganda control points."
In its routine activities the DAR National
Defense office sends out each year, to a regular
mailing list, more than 100,000 pieces of patri
otic literature. Together the chairman and
executive secretary prepare monthly articles
for the DAR magazine and Press Digest on
such subjects as the dangers of communism
and United States alliances with other nations.
This last subject rates considerable space,
for it is DAR national policy, frequently ex
pressed, that any form of world government
involving loss of national sovereignty is un
desirable.
Still other matters that concern this office
have to do with American groups and indi
viduals cited by the Government as sub
versive; or certain textbooks and other pub
lications suspected of running counter to the
American way.
"We are continually answering inquiries
from our members all over the country regard
ing the standing of persons and publications,"
Mrs. Lucas told me.
"For their guidance in
selecting speakers, we see that every State
chairman of our National Defense Committee
is supplied with the Government's citation
booklets and other pertinent information.
"Down in the basement," she added, "are
cabinets packed with data on communism
alone. We were one of the first organiza
tions to collect material of this sort. Later,
it was much used by the FBI and Un-Ameri
can Activities Committees. Back in the
twenties, two DAR members even infiltrated
a Communist camp and brought back notes
of the goings-on to the home office."
Long List of Wartime Services
In connection with America's over-all na
tional defenses, the DAR long has advocated a
strong program of military preparedness.
When the country has been at war, the
Daughters have been quick to offer their serv
ices. During the Spanish-American War, they
initiated and helped launch the first official
corps of women nurses for the Army and
Navy.
A DAR Hospital Corps committee, sparked
and directed by Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee,
took on the official assignment of screening
the flood of applications pouring in to the
War Department from women volunteers all
over the country. Nearly 6,000 applicants
were considered, and about 1,200 of the nurses
selected saw active duty.
World War I contributions of the DAR
amounted to more than $3,730,000 in cash and
other donations, including gifts ranging from
ambulances and field kitchens to knitted
garments and tobacco.
Besides lending land to the Government
for emergency office space, and getting its
members solidly behind Liberty Loan drives,
the organization was active in all sorts of
war relief at home and abroad. One of
the accomplishments of the "DARlings,"
as
French Ambassador Jusserand called them,
was the restoration of a devastated French
village, complete with farm equipment, live
stock, and a new water system.
Again, during World War II, the DAR
piled up a new list of services: 26 million
hours for Red Cross work; nearly $400,000
for the blood plasma fund; blood donations
from more than 13,000 members.
Ships' Crews "Adopted"
The Daughters outfitted and sent abroad
almost 200,000
"buddy bags."
They
"adopted" the crews of 89 LCI (Landing Craft
Infantry) vessels, for special attentions and
gifts. Among outstanding presentations to
the services were portable X-ray units for
hospital ships, an electric pipe organ for an
aircraft carrier, and a radio distribution sys
tem, with 2,500 headsets, for a veterans' hos
pital.
Today, as the Nation gathers its powers for
the long and tough job of winning the peace,
DAR headquarters once more is organizing
for service. Word has gone out asking all
members to sign up for whatever civilian or
military defense activities are under way in
their communities and to be alert for any
emergency.
Here in Washington the Daughters tell a
story to be added to the vast accumulation of
Capital taxicab lore. An out-of-town member,
it seems, once asked a taxi driver to take her
to the "Revolutionary Building."
"The what?" he asked.
"You know, the headquarters of the Revolu
tion," she told him.
"Sorry, ma'am," came the answer.
"You
better find another driver. This cab don't get
into that kind of trouble!"
It isn't likely that you will see this year's
model of revolution at DAR headquarters,
1776 D Street. But you do find there a good
deal of determination to serve their country's
needs as the Daughters see them.
In a less perilous world and time, back in
1900, an early President General had some
words to say that are even more expressive
now.
"America's best possession," Mrs. Daniel
Manning told the Ninth Continental Congress,
"is the devotion of her citizens. . . We New
Yorkers, Californians, Puerto Ricans, Alas
kans, and Hawaiians claim her government
and protection, and she in turn claims our
devotion for her protection.
"This is the mutual link that binds us."
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